Daniel T. Chiu, Seattle US

Daniel T. Chiu, Seattle, WA US

Patent application number

Description

Published

20080248499

Methods and Apparatus for the Isolation and Enrichment of Circulating Tumor Cells - Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for concentrating and isolating Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) from body fluids. One embodiment of the present invention includes a micro-fabricated or nano-fabricated device having channels configured for separating and excluding. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention utilize features that reduce the hydrodynamic pressure experienced by the cells during the separation, isolation and concentration processes, and therefore reduce the likelihood of cell lysis or other damage to the cells.

10-09-2008

20080283385

SPECTRALLY TUNABLE PHOTOLYSIS OF A CAPSULE CONTAINING AN ACTIVE MATERIAL - Capsules that include a shell, a sensitizer, and an active material. Methods for using the capsules to spatiotemporally deliver active material. Representative shells include vesicles, polymers, and inorganic materials. Representative active materials include small molecules and proteins.

11-20-2008

20080318324

Biochip for High-Throughput Screening of Circulating Tumor Cells - Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to the use of effusive filtration to segregate tumor cells from a sample of bodily fluid. In one embodiment, fluid containing a cell is flowed down a channel having a filtration medium present along at least one side wall. The tumor cell is captured when the fluid passes through the filtration medium. Accumulated pressure on the captured tumor cell is reduced by allowing the fluid that has passed through the filtration medium to re-enter the channel. In a particular embodiment, the filtration medium may comprise side wall apertures having a width smaller than that of the cell, with downstream apertures allowing re-entry of the fluid into the channel.

12-25-2008

20090047676

System and method for obtaining and maintaining high-resistance seals in patch clamp recordings - The invention provides a system, system components, and a method for rapidly obtaining and stably maintaining a cell in optimal contact with the cell-contacting surface of a sensor in a cell-based biosensor. In one aspect, the system maximizes the seal between a whole cell and the cell-contact surface of a patch clamp micropipette, maximizing the efficiency of a whole cell patch clamp recording.

02-19-2009

20090217742

DROPLET COMPARTMENTALIZATION FOR CHEMICAL SEPARATION AND ON-LINE SAMPLING - Methods and devices are provided for overcoming detrimental diffusive effects in a sample liquid stream by forming segmented liquid bodies (e.g., droplets) from a sample liquid stream in an immiscible liquid stream. The liquid bodies are formed at the intersection of a channel providing the sample liquid stream and a channel providing the immiscible liquid stream. The formed liquid bodies compartmentalize the portion of the sample liquid stream from which the liquid bodies are formed, thus minimizing the detrimental effects of diffusion that occur in a continuous liquid stream.

09-03-2009

20100041046

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE DISCRETIZATION AND MANIPULATION OF SAMPLE VOLUMES - Embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for the discretization and manipulation of sample volumes that is simple, robust, and versatile. It is a fluidic device that partitions a sample by exploiting the interplay between fluidic forces, interfacial tension, channel geometry, and the final stability of the formed droplet and/or discretized volume. These compartmentalized volumes allow for isolation of samples and partitioning into a localized array that can subsequently be manipulated and analyzed. The isolation of the discretized volumes along with the device's inherent portability render our invention versatile for use in many areas, including but not limited to PCR, digital PCR, biological assays for diagnostics and prognostics, cancer diagnosis and prognosis, high throughput screening, single molecule and single cell reactions or assays, the study crystallization and other statistical processes, protein crystallization, drug screening, environmental testing, and the coupling to a wide range of analytical detection techniques for biomedical assays and measurements. The minimal fluid interconnects and simple flow geometry makes the device easy to use and implement, economical to fabricate and operate, and robust in its operations.

02-18-2010

20100279321

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THE ISOLATION AND ENRICHMENT OF CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS - Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for concentrating and isolating Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) from body fluids. One embodiment of the present invention includes a micro-fabricated or nano-fabricated device having channels configured for separating and excluding. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention utilize features that reduce the hydrodynamic pressure experienced by the cells during the separation, isolation and concentration processes, and therefore reduce the likelihood of cell lysis or other damage to the cells.

11-04-2010

20100323388

BIOCHIP FOR HIGH-THROUGHPUT SCREENING OF CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS - Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to the use of effusive filtration to segregate tumor cells from a sample of bodily fluid. In one embodiment, fluid containing a cell is flowed down a channel having a filtration medium present along at least one side wall. The tumor cell is captured when the fluid passes through the filtration medium. Accumulated pressure on the captured tumor cell is reduced by allowing the fluid that has passed through the filtration medium to re-enter the channel. In a particular embodiment, the filtration medium may comprise side wall apertures having a width smaller than that of the cell, with downstream apertures allowing re-entry of the fluid into the channel.

12-23-2010

20110257894

METHOD FOR DECONVOLVING SINGLE-MOLECULE INTENSITY DISTRIBUTIONS FOR QUANTITATIVE BIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENTS - A method for quantifying fluorescent puncta comprising acquiring at least one first intensity distribution comprising fluorescence intensity values from a plurality of first fluorescent puncta; acquiring at least one second intensity distribution comprising fluorescence intensity values from a plurality of second fluorescent puncta, wherein each second fluorescent puncta has a determined number of fluorescent emitters; determining the relationship between the first and second intensity distributions; and fitting the second intensity distribution to the first intensity distribution to provide a count and distribution of the number of fluorescent emitters within the first fluorescent puncta.

10-20-2011

20110269131

SUBSTRATE FOR MANUFACTURING DISPOSABLE MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES - Embodiments of the present invention relate to a UV-curable polyurethane-methacrylate (PUMA) substrate for manufacturing microfluidic devices. PUMA is optically transparent, biocompatible, and has stable surface properties. Embodiments include two production processes that are compatible with the existing methods of rapid prototyping, and characterizations of the resultant PUMA microfluidic devices are presented. Embodiments of the present invention also relate to strategies to improve the production yield of chips manufactured from PUMA resin, especially for microfluidic systems that contain dense and high-aspect-ratio features. Described is a mold-releasing procedure that minimizes motion in the shear plane of the microstructures. Also presented are simple yet scalable able methods for forming seals between PUMA substrates, which avoids excessive compressive force that may crush delicate structures. Two methods for forming interconnects with PUMA microfluidic devices are detailed. These improvements produce a microfiltration device containing closely spaced and high-aspect-ratio fins, suitable for retaining and concentrating cells or beads from a highly diluted suspension.

11-03-2011

20120129190

ENSEMBLE-DECISION ALIQUOT RANKING - Provided herein, among other aspects, are methods and apparatuses for ranking aliquots from a suspension containing bioparticles. In certain embodiments, the bioparticles may be cells, organelles, proteins, DNAs, debris of biological origin, microbeads coated with biological compounds, or viral particles. As such, the methods and apparatuses provided herein may be used to quantify rare cells such as circulating cancer cells, fetal cells and other rare cells present in bodily fluids for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment.

05-24-2012

20120282632

FUNCTIONALIZED CHROMOPHORIC POLYMER DOTS AND BIOCONJUGATES THEREOF - The present invention provides, among other aspects, functionalized chromophoric polymer dots comprising a hydrophobic core and a hydrophilic cap, and bioconjugates thereof. Also provided are improved methods for preparing functionalized chromophoric polymer dots. Methods for in vivo imaging and molecular labeling are also disclosed.

CHROMOPHORIC POLYMER DOTS - The present invention provides, among other aspects, stabilized chromophoric nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are rationally functionalized with a pre-determined number of functional groups. In certain embodiments, the stable chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are modified with a low density of functional groups. In yet other embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are conjugated to one or more molecules. Also provided herein are methods for making rationally functionalized chromophoric nanoparticles.

09-12-2013

20130234068

CHROMOPHORIC POLYMER DOTS - The present invention provides, among other aspects, stabilized chromophoric nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are rationally functionalized with a pre-determined number of functional groups. In certain embodiments, the stable chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are modified with a low density of functional groups. In yet other embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are conjugated to one or more molecules. Also provided herein are methods for making rationally functionalized chromophoric nanoparticles.

09-12-2013

20130266957

HIGHLY FLUORESCENT POLYMER NANOPARTICLE - Fluorescent nanoparticles are provided. The nanoparticles are formed from poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-(1-cyanovinylene-1,4-phenylene)]. Also provided are methods for imaging a target to which the nanoparticles are bound.

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THE ISOLATION AND ENRICHMENT OF CIRCULATING TUMOR CELLS - Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for concentrating and isolating Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) from body fluids. One embodiment of the present invention includes a micro-fabricated or nano-fabricated device having channels configured for separating and excluding. Embodiments in accordance with the present invention utilize features that reduce the hydrodynamic pressure experienced by the cells during the separation, isolation and concentration processes, and therefore reduce the likelihood of cell lysis or other damage to the cells.

POLYELECTROLYTE-COATED POLYMER DOTS AND RELATED METHODS - Polymer nanoparticles and related methods include polymer dots having a coating including a polyelectrolyte polymer. The polymer dots can have a polyelectrolyte coating that can improve colloidal stability of the particles as compared to polymer dots not having the coating. A method of preparing a population of nanoparticles. The methods can include, e.g., providing the population of nanoparticles having a condensed semiconducting polymer; and combining, in a first aqueous solution comprising polyelectrolytes, the population of nanoparticles having the condensed semiconducting polymer to form a population of nanoparticles having a polyelectrolyte coating surrounding the condensed semiconducting polymer of each of the nanoparticles in the population. The methods can include a step of forming the condensed semiconducting polymer using nanoprecipitation or miniemulsion techniques. The polyelectrolyte coating can completely surround the condensed semiconducting polymer.